Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-23
THE LATEST EDUCATIONAL ENDow-
MENT

MENT.
The endowment of a Misunderstanding
and technical school in San Francisco by
DR.. Coggswell with S1,OO0,00O worth of
city property, is happy event for the
metropolis. Such gifts to the people prove
of benefit beyond the immediate bounda-
ries of the training they assure to ambi-
tious youths. They teach men the wise
uses of wealth, and go very far toward an
swering the socialistic fallacy that aggre-
cation of money and property is in itself
vicious.
As a rule, very few of the wealthy men
of this country inherited their possessions.
As in the case of DIR. Coggswell, the most
of our rich men became wealthy by "hard
knocks" energy, determination and will
power. The mass of those who rail at the
rich are men WHO have missed opportuni-
ties to amass some fair portion of worldly
goods, and these wholly overlook the rea-
son for it, which in most cases lies within
themselves. The contented, those who
have neither time for nor pleasure in
envy, take very little, if any, care whether
their neighbors have one dollar or one
million Life for them has too many en-
joyments, too many duties, too many COM
pensations for daily toll, too many rewards
even in the lowliest walks, to give place
for vain regrets or enyious longings. 1t is
fact, that the greater proportion of the
comfortably situated of to-day were in the
outset poor men. As a rule, they began
the race of life evenly with those they
have outstripped.
If there is to be any envy of DR.. Coggs-
well, for instance, it can have the count
enance of good men only when it
sympathizes with the doctor in the
qualification he must feel in being
able to do good with his riches.
He acquired them side by side with men
who remain poor; yet these same poor
men, if they have done their part toward
their fellows ought to feel Just as well sat
isfied with themselves. What patience
can right-thinking men have with those
who abuse, malign and traduce such as
have honestly succeeded? That one has
tenfold more goods than his neighbor can
make no sort of difference in his manhood
if his heart is right
In this marching age those who make
manly advances ought to be applauded, if
for nothing else than their energy. No
man accumulates wealth, after all, to the
lasting injury of the community. It's but
question Of few year, whether he i'll
or wisely uses his means. DIR. Coggswell
has chosen to put his beyond possibility of
misapplication. Following the example
Of the distinguished citizens of California,
who have similarly endowed educational
institutions, he has chosen to be his own
executor, to give back to the world about
all he has won in it, and in manner to
do his fellows inestimable good In other
words, he has been the instrument for
gathering money to direct its application
in a specific direction, for a wise end,
which otherwise might not have been at
tanned
1t is suggested by contemporary that
there is no assurance the proposed new
school win accomplish what is hoped for
it, because its promoter is peculiar in
his views, and insists that his own ideas
of education shall impregnate the institu-
ton. We do not know the man, and must
treat of his gift upon its face. But we
have faith that any such scheme, backed
by money and started in the right direc-
ton, viii hardly go wrong. If its found
er's plans do not train with received ideas,
he has put himself in such an attitude
that he must adopt sooner or later the very
best systems. In the nature of things this
must come to pass, and at least when he
Is gone the endowed school will take on
the form that the wisdom of experience
prescribes. However, the man cannot be
out Of the way to any material extent who
prefaces his gift by such utterances as
these:
The education that does not prepare one 10
intelligently direct his labor Is not worthy of a
moments consideration. We are sorry TO say
but little effort is made in our present system
of education to prepare children 10 use their
knowledge in assisting them to gain liveli-
hood. Most Of our boys and girls have no oc-
cupzti1n and are not fit for one when thew
leave school. The new education demanded BY
the necessities of the nineteenth century calls
for The training OF the eye and the hand and
stamps it rs being just as important as the
other kindred studies Educated workincmeu
ard women are necessary 20 solve the great la-
Dor problems u at VIII arise in the future For
the purposes Of Is education there is room and
need for technical schools in all quarters of our
country. Mental industry can exist only along
with physical industry; honce. the true school
should give both mental and physical culture
There is room for the Coggswell training
school-plenty of room. 1t proposes to
give the boys and girls of San Francisco
opportunities to learn how TO use their
hands in vocatious that viii better fit theta
for the battle of life. 1t says to the organ
izations that put up the bars against APP
prentices, that there is and shall be no
limit to industrial occupation among the
youths Of California thar one as well rs
another may be taught how 70 drive a
screw, or saw a plank, or to run an engine,
or fashion and shape, ornament and finish,
cut and make, design and execute any